Structure and Pattern of Urbanisation in Punjab: A Macro Level Analysis

Unprecedented growth of urban population presents a major challenge for sustainable economic growth. The State of Punjab which was known for its agricultural performance and dynamic rural economy upto 1990s is now emerging as a service economy dominated by urban sector. The State of Punjab has emerged as the sixth major urbanised State in India. According to the 2011 census 37.49 per cent of the State’s population is living in urban areas and contributing nearly 60 per cent to State’s GDP. The majority of the growing urban population was absorbed by the big urban centers which are likely to cause multiple problems such as lack of basic amenities and infrastructural deficiencies in these cities. Although the movement of population from lower order towns towards high order towns and cities and outgrowth of urban areas kept urban density almost stagnant, the area under urban units has progressed more than three times from 1971 to 2001. The net rural-urban migration has been increasing since 1971, which leads to the problem of slum growth and urban poverty in Punjab. _______________________________________________________________